Electric temperature-controller



(No Model.) .7

E. H. PARKER. I v ELEGTRIG TEMPERATURE CONTROLLER. No. 425,625.

Patented Apr..15, 1890.

III I I II UNITED STATEs' PATENT OFFICE.

EMER H. PARKER, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC TEM PERATU RE-CO NTROLLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,625, dated April 15, 1890.

Application filed May 21, 1889. Serial N0x 311,511. iNo model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMER I'I. PARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Temperature-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the class of devices for controlling (regulating) the temperature of houses or of inclosures generally heated by the combustion of fuel, and which device involves a damper in the heater actuated automatically to open or close the draft, as required, by a fall or rise in the temperature beyond a predetermined degree through the medium of a thermostat or equivalent instrument affected by change in the temperature to open or close an electric circuit-containing mechanism influenced by the current and connected with the damper to open the latter with the fall and close it with the rise of temperature.

While my improvement relates to the class of devices thus outlined in general terms, besides involving peculiarities of construction of the mechanism for actuating the damper, the function of the damper itself is peculiar in its particular connection, inasmuch as it serves to admit cold air to the base of the fuel-chamber, thereby increasing the draft upward through the fuel-chamber to the flue to increase combustion when the temperature has fallen below the predetermined or normal degree, and to shut off the air-supply to the base of the fuel-chamber and tend to induce a downdraft through the burning fuel to the flue, thereby decreasing or checking the intensity of the combustion with excess in the temperature. Besides, the electric controlling mechanism possesses novel features, which afford material advantages as to effectiveness of the operation, simplicity of the construction, and inexpensiveness of maintenance.

The method involved in the manner I observe of electrically controlling combustion in the heater is set forth in my application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 320,094, filed August 8, 1889.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a View in broken sectional elevation of a heater having the damper detail of construction in operative position; and Fig. 2 is a view enlarged over the scale observed in Fig. l. and diagrammatic in its nature, showing the electrical mechanism for controlling the damper. A is a heater, as a stove or furnace, having an ash-pit B in its lower part and a combustion-chamber 0 above the ash-pit, the two being separatedin the usual manner by a grate D. From the fuel-chamber extends the pipe or conduit E leading to the flue, and the pipe is connected with the ash-pit B by a section of pipe E, affording a passage between the ash-pit and pipe E. In the passage E, I place my damper and connect with it the mechanism for operating it by electricity,the following being a description of the parts and of the manner of their co-operation:

' F is a box, preferably of rectangular form, as shown, having an open bottom and openings r and r, respectively, in its top and in one side, and at which it is connected with or coupled into the vertical and horizontal portions of the pipe-section E, thus forming a part of the passage. Inside the box is pivoted a damper G, supported on its pivot 19 to one side of its center of gravity to cause it to tend automatically to assume, preferably, the position in which it is illustrated by the full lines in Fig. 1,whereat it shuts off the supply of outside air' through the box to the ash-pit and requires to be moved and held at its other position (indicated by the dotted lines), by the effect of the current, as hereinafter described, in which last-named position it admits air through the bottom of the box and opening 7' into the ash-pit, thereby increasing the upward draft through the fuel in the chamber 0, but which draft is obviously shut off with the damper in its position shown by the full lines, wherein there is a tendency to produce a downdraft of the products of combustion through the fuel by way of the ash-pit and passage E to the pipe E, whereby and by the shutting off the supply of air the intensity of combustion is rapidly reduced.

The explanation of the rapid checking effect on the intensity of combustion of the burning fuel in the fire-chamber by the turning of the damper to open communication through the passage E from the ash-pit or base of the fuel-chamber to the pipe E is as follows:

While the damper occupies the position (illustrated by dotted lines) of closing communication through the passage E from beneath the fire-chamber to the pipe E, the passage E serves no novel purpose, since it merely afiords a duct for admitting the supply of air through the ash-pit to the base of the fire-chamber to produce the necessary upward draft through the fuel in the latter to the flue, and the updraft could be not only shut olf, but readily controlled by regulating the damper to permit more or less air to pass it. When, however, the damper is turned to the position shown of closing communication between the ash-pit and the outer air, the consequent checking effect upon the intensity of the fire is not only occasioned by shutting off the supply of air to the base of the fire. It will be noticed that then the pipe E, leading to the flue, (and which may therefore be referred to as the flue,) communicates with the combustion-chamber not only above the fuel therein, but. also through the passage E by way of the ash-pit below the fuel. The drawing effect of the flue, therefore, is then exerted from the lower as well as the upper end of the fire-chamber, producing a downdraft in and through the fuel, which withdraws from the latter products of combustion and air whichmay find access to the ash-pit and would otherwise be drawn upward only through the fuel, thereby rapidly deadening the intensity of the fire.

One projecting end of the pivot 12 carries a pinion 0 and beyond the pinion a laterallyextending contact-finger n, to which may be secured a flat contact-spring n, extending longitudinally of and forming part of the contactnfinger, and the pinion 0 meshes with a rack m, pivoted to the box F and connected 'by a link on with the free end of an armature Z, pivotallysupported at its opposite end on the box adjacent to the cores of an electro-magnet H. Attraction of the armature Z by its magnet H is resisted by the damperon its pivot and the friction of the parts described as being connected therewith, and may be further resisted by an adjustable spring at, the resistance of which assists in retracting the armature when the circuit is opened.

I is another eleetro-magnet suitablysupported, and which may comprise a single spool and core, as shown, and z" is its armature, pivotall y supported between its extremitieson the box, and having a spring-contact attachment a (like the spring a) on the side below the pivot adjacent to a contact-screw 1', and at its lower extremity a foot portion 7a, extending toward the arc of movement of the contact-finger 'n. An adjustable spring at may be employed to withdraw the armature Z from the magnet I when the circuit containing it is opened.

K is an electric battery, preferably of the 'Leclanch or other equally-effective kind, and

'mostat, while the opposite pole is connected by the conductor g with the armature Z, and the magnet I is connected by a conductor f with a contact e, extending into the path of pivotal movement of the contact-finger n, to which a branch conductor (Z leads from the conductor g. The magnet I is also connected with the conductor h by a branch conductor 77.

The operation is asfollows: With thedamper Gin the position illustrated by the full lines, and which is the position it tends normally to assume by its own gravity, the thermostat is out of engagement with the contact M, the temperature of the inclosure containing it not having fallen below the predetermined degree, and with the thermostat out of such c011- tact the circuits of both batteries are open by the lack of contact between the finger 'n and contact c. When, with a fall of the temper ature below the predetermined degree, the thermostatv engages with the contact M, the circuit is closed as follows: Through the conductor 7r, battery K, conductor h, magnet H, contact '5, armature Z, conductor g, battery K, conductor g, and thermostat, thus bringing both batteries into the circuit and utilizing their combined strength to produce attraction to the magnet H of the armature Z, and thereby, through the connection with the latter of the damper, turn it to the position indicated by the dotted lines, wherein it opens communication with the outer air of the ashpit, and by the turning of the damper the finger a is turned against the contact e. Instead of causing the damper to be held in the position last described by continuing the attraction of the armature Z until the temperature'is raised above the predetermined degree, (when the thermostat would open the circuit by disengagement with the contact M,) the arrangement of parts causes the current to continue its. course from the contact M along the conductor h to the shunt-00nd uctor 7L2, on which it passes to the magnet I, thencc on the conductor f, and by way of the contact Ice is cut out by exciting the magnet I to attract and hold the armature Z, whereby the foot portion 7a is moved under the finger n, supporting it and the damper by the power generated by the' smaller and less expensive battery K, which may be replenished, as required,

desire to secure the temperature of an inclosure heated from the said heater and comprising a pipe-section aifording a passage E, communicating with the outer air and affording communication between the heater and its pipe from below the combustion-chamber, a damper G in the passage and supported to assume automatically one of its two draft-controlling positions, a thermostat L, or the like, and electrical mechanism connecting the damper with the thermostat and excited by the effect of temperature on the thermostat to close the circuit and move the damper to its'other position, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a heater A and its pipe E, means for automatically regulating the temperature of an inclosure heated from the said heater and comprising a pipe-section affording a passage E providing communication between the heater and its pipe from below the combustion-chamber and containing a boX F communicating with the passage and provided with an open base, a damper G in the box supported to assume automatically one of its two positions of affording comm unication through the box of the heater with the outer air and of the heater with the said pipe, a thermostat L, or the like, and electrical mechanism connecting the damper with the said thermostat and excited by the effect of temperature on the thermostat Lto close the circuit and move the damper to its other position, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a heater A and its pipe E, means for automatically regulating the temperature of an inclosure heated from the said heater, comprising a damper G, supported and movable to control the draft of the heater, a thermostat L, or the like, in a normally-open electric circuit containing a battery K and magnet II, having its armature Z connected with the damper, and a battery K in a normally-open branch circuit leading to the thermostat, and the closing of which effects opening of the circuit of the battery K, and an electro-magnet I in the branch eircu'it, having its armature Z provided with a support for the dampeijthe whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

4. In combination with a heater A and its pipe E, means for automatically regulating the temperature of an inclosure heated from the said heater, comprising a damper G, supported to assume automatically one of its two draft-controlling positions, a battery K, and a thermostat L, or the like, contact M, adjacent to the thermostat, magnet H, and armature Z, all in the normally-open circuit of the battery K, the said armature being connected with the damper, a battery K, connected in a normally-open branch circuit with the circuit of the battery K and thermostat, and the closing of which effects opening of the circuit containing the battery K, and an electromagnet I in the branch circuit and having its armature Z provided with a support 7c for the damper, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

5. In combination with a heater A and its pipe E, means for automatically regulating the temperature of an inclosure heated from the said heater, comprising a pipe-section affording a passage E, communicating with the outer air and affording communication between the pipe and heater from below the combustion-chamber, a damper G, pivotally supported in the passage and carrying a pinion o, and a contact-finger n, a rack m in engagement with the pinion, a battery K, and a thermostat L, or the like, contact M, adjacent to the thermostat, magnet H, and armature Z, linked to the rack, and all in the normally-open circuit of the battery K, a battery K, connected in normally-open circuit with that of the battery K and with the thermostat, and an armature Z, provided with a support '10 to engage with the finger 'n, and thereby sustain the damper with the closing of the circuit containing the magnet I, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

6. I11 combination with a heater A and its pipe E, means for automatically regulating the temperature of an inclosure heated from the said heater, comprising a pipe-section affording a passage E, communicating with the outer air and affording. communication between the pipe and heater from below the combustion-chamber, a damper G, pivotally supported in the passage and carrying a pinion o, and a contact-finger n, a pivotal rack on in engagement with the pinion, a thermostat L, or the like, adjacent to a contact M, a battery K, with one pole of which the contact M is connected by a conductor h, a magnet H, and contact Z, connected with the opposite pole of the said battery, a pivotal armature Z, connected with the rack m, a magnet I, and contact 6, connect-ed by a conductor f, a pivotal armature Z, having a support 70 at one connecting the magnet I with the conductor end extending into the path of the finger n, h, the whole being constructed and arranged a battery K, having one pole connected with to operate substantially as described.

the thermostat by a conductor 9 and its 0pposite pole with the armature Z by a conduct-0r g, a conductor d, leading to the finger n from the conductor g, and a conductor h EMER H. PARKER. In presence of J. W. DYRENFORTH, M. J. BOWERS. 

